Friday, October 15, 2010

Glide Review - Fistful Of Mercy - As I Call You Down

It is of the semi-super-folk group Fistful Of Mercy's first release titled, As I Call You Down.

I say Fistful Of Mercy are "semi super", because having one nationally known and loved artist (Ben Harper) the son of one the most famous pop musicians of all time (Dhani Harrison) and another more artsy artist (Joseph Arthur) doesn't really make you full on SUPER in my book of poems.

Harper has natural charm (could have something to do with looking like Lopez), but musically I never really thought he rose much above Jack Johnson, who I find bland as all fuck. Arthur's solo outings are intriguing but that intrigue and looping guitar style is pretty much absent on this record. Dhani hasn't done much, since a wicked tribute concert for his late great father George, but he is the one here that I am listening out for in the future.

I think it is because the two songs which jumped out at me seemed to be the ones he led, "Fathers Son" and "Things Go Round". I could be wrong, perhaps it is a total group 3-way (EwwGross!), but those 2 sound different then the rest of the album. There's no doubt the cats can beautifully sing their faces off...but the songs don't say jack shit and the choruses seem to go on forever's and ever's.

In the end the album fell into a beach bum vibe that lacked energy...maybe if I was sitting in Whalers staring out into the Pacific I might have thought differently about it....but probably not. Some vid's for you to judge...

Live in the Studio:

Live with some guy named Eddie:

And just because the Prince solo rips so much ass, here was the first time I became aware of Dhani Harrison:

Jesus the Purple One gives me goosebumps each time I see that performance....